Preparation of oligo conjugates

ABSTRACT

Conjugated molecules are prepared that comprise a predetermined number of oligo conjugation components. The conjugated molecules also may comprise one or more detectable labels. Preparation of these molecules can be implemented according to an asymmetric or a symmetric conjugation strategy.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/381,831, filed Apr. 11, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/042,064, filed Feb. 11, 2016, now abandoned,which is continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/790,922, filedMar. 8, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,289,502, issued Mar. 22, 2016, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

The present technology relates generally to the preparation of oligoconjugates, which can be constituents of nano-scale informationprocessing systems. In this context, the category of oligos encompassespolymers of 2′-deoxyribosenucleotide residues (DNA), ribonucleotideresidues (RNA), or both DNA residues and RNA residues. The oligocategory also includes polymers of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as wellas heteropolymers that comprise both PNA monomers and RNA and/or DNAmonomers.

BACKGROUND

Nucleic acids have been used to implement nano-scale informationprocessing systems suitable for solving computational problems in a testtube or in a cell, as illustrated in U.S. patent applicationpublications No. 20050112614, No. 20100069621 and No. 20110294687 and inU.S. Pat. No. 7,745,594. Such nano-scale systems typically must becompatible with a biological environment, particularly, if theirpotential for use in diagnostic assays or for treatment of diseases isto be realized.

A nano-scale information processing system suitable for such usesrequires several nucleic acid segments that can serve as computationunits that are capable of performing logical operations. Thus, thereexists a need to develop synthetic strategies that will permit thesynthesis of a diverse array of oligos, at high purity, as well asstrategies for conjugating or annealing such oligos in an efficient,well-controlled manner.

SUMMARY

The methodology of the invention accommodates various conjugationcomponents, discussed in detail below, to yield conjugated moleculesthat comprise a predetermined number of the components, as desired. Theinventive methodology thus can be used to develop nano-scale informationprocessing systems, as described above. In particular, the invention isalso suitable for producing biological transistors, which can be part ofintegrated circuits capable of executing compound logic functions, e.g.,in diagnostic or therapeutic contexts that entail targeting ofneoplastic or virus-infected cells.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for preparing a compound ofthe formula

The inventive method comprises(i) attaching a conjugation component of formula

wherein R² is R^(2a) or R^(2ap),

to a solid support

to form a compound of formula

(ii) when R² is R^(2ap), converting to

to

and(iii) reacting

with a conjugation component of formula

where R³ can be a protected conjugation functionality R^(3ap) or anunprotected conjugation functionality R^(3a). When R³ is R^(3a) then(iv) the latter further reacts with an oligo. As noted above, the oligocan comprise (a) a sequence of 2′-deoxyribosenucleotide residues (DNA),(b) a sequence of ribonucleotide residues (RNA), or (c) a sequencecontaining both 2′-deoxyribosenucleotide residues and ribosenucleotideresidues. Alternatively, the oligo can be comprised of peptide nucleicacid monomers (PNAs), linked by amide bonds, or it can be aheteropolymer that has both PNA monomers and RNA and/or DNA monomericunits. An oligo may optionally comprise a label.

The reaction (iv) forms

where

is a solid support material and

are independently selected from the category of oligos, defined above.In addition, ----- represents the point of connection to the part of thesolid support-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

The inventive methodology thus described is qualified in that R² doesnot react with R^(1a) or R^(1b) and R³ does not react with R^(2a) orR^(2b) as further described below. Furthermore, substituents R^(1a) andR^(1b) are complementary conjugation functionalities and L¹ is conjugatelinker formed by reaction of R^(1a) and R^(1b). In keeping with thischaracterization of their respective chemical roles, selections ofR^(1a), R^(1b) and L¹ can be grouped as follows:

-   -   (a) R^(1a) is azido, R^(1b) is —C≡C—R²³, and L¹ is

or

-   -   (b) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is carboxy, and L¹ is —NR²³C(═O)—,        or    -   (c) R^(1a) is carboxy, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —C(═O)NR²³—,        or    -   (d) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is halo, and L¹ is —NR²³—, or    -   (e) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is hydroxy, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (f) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—, or    -   (g) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h) R^(1a) is —X, R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is —S—, or    -   (i) R^(1a) is

R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is

r

-   -   (j) R^(1a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(1b) is azido, and L¹ is

or

-   -   (k) R^(1a) is —X, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —NR²³—, or    -   (l) R^(1a) is hydroxy, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (m) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is        —NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (n) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (o) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(1b) is —X, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (p) R^(1a) is —X, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L¹ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (q) R^(1a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)SC(═O)OR²³, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, L¹ is        —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (r) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L¹ is        —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or    -   (s) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is —X, and L¹ is —S—, or    -   (t) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is

and L¹ is

or

-   -   (u) R^(1a) is —SH, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and L¹        is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—.

In the above characterization of R^(1a) and R^(1b) group X is selectedfrom chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, ordimethoxy triflate and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Similarly, R^(2a) and R^(2b) are complementary conjugationfunctionalities and L² is conjugate linker formed by reaction of R^(2a)and R^(2b), and they likewise can be groups as above.

-   -   (a′) R^(2ap) is halo, R^(2a) is azido, R^(2b) is —C≡C—R²³, and        L² is

or

-   -   (b′) R^(2ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is carboxy,        and L² is —NR²³C(═O)—, or    -   (c′) R^(2ap) is carboxy ester, R^(2a) is carboxy, R^(2b) is        —NHR²³, and L² is —C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (d′) R^(2ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is halo, and        L² is —NR²³—, or    -   (e′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is hydroxy, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—,        or    -   (f′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—,        or    -   (g′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is thio, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h′) R^(2a) is halo, R^(2b) is thio, and L² is —S—, or    -   (i′) R^(2a) is

R^(2b) is thio, and L² is

or

-   -   (j′) R^(2a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(2b) is azido, and L² is

or

-   -   (k′) R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is —NR²³—, or    -   (l′) R^(2a) is hydroxy, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (m′) R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is        —NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (n′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (o′) R^(2ap) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(2b) is —X, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (p′) R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L² is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (q′) R^(2a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(2b) is —NHR²³, L² is        —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (r′) R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L² is        —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or    -   (s′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is —X, and L² is —S—, or    -   (t′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is

and L² is

or

-   -   (u′) R^(2a) is —SH, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and        L² is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—.

In the above characterization of R^(2a) and R^(2b) group X is selectedfrom chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, ordimethoxy triflate.

In the foregoing description, R²³ is selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl,cycloalkynyl, substituted cycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic. It also is thecase that:

Pr is an amino protecting group;

R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl;

R²⁵ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl;

s is an integer greater than 1;

R^(3ap) is selected from the group consisting of halo, —NR²³Pr,—O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, carboxy ester, phosphate and phosphate ester; and

R^(3a) is selected from the group consisting of —X, azido, —C≡C—R²³,—NHR²³, carboxy, hydroxy, —C(═O)OR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SH and—O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and group X is selected from chlorine, bromine,fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, or dimethoxy triflate.

In one of its aspects, the inventive methodology embodies an asymmetricconjugation strategy, illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown, conjugationfunctionalities α, β are present at each end of a first oligo andconjugation functionalities α′, β′ at each end of a second oligo. FIG. 1shows that (i) a reacts to form a new bond with α′ and (ii) P reacts toform a new bond with β′, but (iii) each of conjugation functionalities αor α′ cannot react with β or β′, respectively. Thus, two oligos, eachhaving a different conjugation functionalities at their respective5′-end and 3′-end, are linked to obtain a di-oligo product. In this waythe asymmetric conjugation strategy of the invention permits theconjugation of components in a desired sequence and orientation, asexemplified by the product depicted in FIG. 1.

The inventive methodology also can proceed in accordance with asymmetric conjugation strategy, depicted in FIG. 2. Pursuant to thisapproach, every oligo has the same set of 5′- and 3′conjugationfunctionalities. Thus, oligo A and oligo B in FIG. 2 are shown to havethe same set of α and α′ functionalities at their respective termini.

Pursuant to the symmetric strategy of the invention, a polymer productcontaining oligo A and oligo B is obtained the by conjugating theunprotected α conjugation functionality of oligo A to solid support, thesurface of which is functionalized with an α′ group. The α′ group at theother end of oligo A is protected, preventing unwanted conjugationbetween α and α′ groups of separate oligo A molecules present in thereaction mixture. After oligo A is tethered to the solid support and theterminal α′ group is deprotected, the tethered product is then allowedto come into contact with a molecule of oligo B, which has anunprotected α conjugation functionality at one end and a protected α′group at the other end.

By either the asymmetric approach or the symmetric approach, the presentinvention permits the “programmed” construction of a conjugated moleculeof prescribed length and sequence. That is, production of a conjugatedmolecule pursuant to the invention can be designed beforehand andcontrolled in practice to determine, via the particular manner chosen bywhich the oligos are conjugated, the numbers and types of the oligos inthe resultant conjugated molecule.

In a variation of inventive method, a compound of the formula

is produced by steps that comprise:(i) attaching a compound of formula

to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

and(iii) reacting

with a compound of the formula

to form

where:

is a solid support material;

are independently selected from the group oligo;

R^(1a) and R^(1b) are complementary conjugation functionalities and L¹is conjugate linker formed by reaction of R^(1a) and R^(1b), R^(2a) andR^(2b) are complementary conjugation functionalities and L² is conjugatelinker formed by reaction of R^(2a) and R^(2b). R^(1a), R^(1b), L¹,R^(2a), R^(2b), L², and R^(3a) are selected from

R^(1a), R^(2a), or R^(3a) R^(1b) or R^(2b) L¹ or L² —C≡C—R²³ azido

azido —C≡C—R²³

carboxy —NHR²³ —C(═O)NR²³— —NHR²³ carboxy —NR²³C(═O)— halo —NHR²³ —NR²³——NR²³Pr halo —NR²³— hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —O—P(═O)(OH)—O——O—P(═O)(OH)(X) hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)—O— —NHR²³ —O—P(═O)(OH)(X)—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —NHR²³ —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³— thio—O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —S—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) thio —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—thio —X —S— —X thio —S— —O—P(═O)(OH)SH —X —O—P(═O)(OH)—S— —X—O—P(═O)(OH)SH —S—P(═O)(OH)—O— —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³ —NHR²³—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³— —NHR²³ —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³—NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)— thio

thio

—SH —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—where the selection of R^(1a), R^(2a), or R^(3a) is independent of eachother provided that L¹ and L² are different, R^(2a) does not react withR^(1a) or R^(1b), and R^(3a) does not react with R^(2a) or R^(2b);

X is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate,triflate, or dimethoxy triflate;

R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substitutedcycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic;

R²⁵ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl;

s is an integer of greater than 1;

----- represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

Pursuant to another variation of the inventive methodology, a compoundis produced of the formula

by steps comprising(i) attaching a compound of the formula

to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

(ii) converting

to

and(iii) reacting

with a compound of the formula

to form

where:

is a solid support material;

are each independently selected from the group oligo;

R^(ap) is protected conjugation functionality which when deprotected isconverted to R^(a), R^(a) and R^(b) are complementary conjugationfunctionalities and L is conjugate linker formed by reaction of R^(a)and R^(b). R^(ap), R^(a), R^(b), and L are selected from

-   -   (a) R^(ap) is halo, R^(a) is azido, R^(b) is —C≡C—R²³, and L is

or

-   -   (b) R^(ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(a) is —NHR²³, R^(b) is carboxy, and L        is —NR²³C(═O)—, or    -   (c) R^(ap) is carboxy ester, R^(a) is carboxy, R^(b) is —NHR²³,        and L is —C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (d) R^(ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(a) is —NHR²³, R^(b) is halo, and L is        —NR²³—, or    -   (e) R^(ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(b) is hydroxy, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (f) R^(ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(b) is —NHR²³, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—,        or    -   (g) R^(ap) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, R^(a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(b)        is halo, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h) R^(ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(b) is thio, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S— or    -   (i) R^(ap) is —SR²⁴, R^(a) is —SH, R^(b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH and L        is —O—P(═O)(OH)S—S—;        where R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,        alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,        substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl,        substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl,        cycloalkynyl, substituted cycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted        heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic;

X is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate,triflate, or dimethoxy triflate;

Pr is an amino protecting group;

R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl; and

----- represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

while

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

In yet another variation, the method of the invention entails preparinga compound of the formula

To this end the method comprises

cleaving the bond between

and L¹ of the compound of the formula

thereby obtaining

Z in the polymer product is selected from —OH, OH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,—COOH, NH₂C(O)—, NH₂NH—C(O)—, COOH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,NH₂C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, NH₂NH—C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,CH₂═CH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, C≡C—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- or HS—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-and the alkylene can be optionally substituted by one or more groupsselected from —OH, halogen, —NHR″, —NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-C≡CH, or—NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-CH═CH₂. When the alkylene is substituted withan —NHR″ group, variable R″ is selected from (C₁-C₁₀)alkyl,(C₃-C₁₀)cycloalkyl, or (C₃-C₁₀)aryl

Pursuant to the present invention, conjugation functionality R³ can belabeled by converting a compound of the formula

to a compound of the formula

In this context R³ is brought into contact with an optically detectablegroup or a radiolabeled group, thereby to obtain a product that carriesa detectable label. The labeled product can be cleaved from the solidsupport, in the manner described immediately above.

The invention also provides a method for producing a conjugated moleculethat is bound to a solid support, as represented by the formula

In the formula

is a solid support material,

is selected from the category of oligo defined above; and

R² is either a protected conjugation functionality R^(2ap), or anunprotected conjugation functionality R^(2a). When R² is R^(2ap) thenR^(2ap) is selected from the group consisting of halo, NR²³Pr, carboxyester, phosphate, phosphate ester, and —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴. Followingremoval of the protection group, R^(2ap) is converted to R^(2a). R^(2a)is a group selected from halo, azido, hydroxy, thio, —NHR²³, carboxy,

—O—P(═O)(OH)(X), —C≡C—R²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SH and

—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, and X is selected from chlorine, bromine,fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, or dimethoxy triflate.Furthermore,

L¹ is selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)NR²³—, —NR²³C(═O)—,—(CR²⁵R²⁵)SC(═O)NR²³—, —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)S—, —NR²³—, —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—,—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—, —S—, —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, and—O—P(═O)(OH)—S—,

R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, C₁ substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substitutedcycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic,

R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl,

R²⁵ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl,

s is an integer of greater than 1,

----- represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a compound accordingformula:

where R² is a protected conjugation functionality R^(2ap), or anunprotected conjugation functionality R^(2a).

is selected from the oligo category defined above, and substituentR^(1b) is selected from the group consisting of —C≡C—R²³, carboxy,—NHR²³, halo, hydroxy, thio, azido, —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), —O—P(═O)(OH)SH,—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, and

Group X is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate,mesylate, triflate, or dimethoxy triflate.

Furthermore, R^(2ap) is selected from the group consisting of halo,NR²³Pr, carboxy ester, phosphate, phosphate ester, and —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴,

R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of halo, azido, hydroxy,thio, —NHR²³, carboxy, —NHR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)(X),

—C≡C—R²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SH and —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³,

R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substitutedheterocyclic,

R²⁴ is alkyl or benzyl, and

represents the point of connection to

Group X is as defined above.

These and other aspects and embodiments of the invention are furtherdescribed in the text that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 illustrates an asymmetric conjugation strategy of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a symmetric conjugation strategy of the invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B Reagents for functionalizing the N-terminal of a PNA.

FIG. 4 Reagents for functionalizing the C-terminal of a PNA

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here.

Definitions

Certain terms employed in this description have the following definedmeanings. Terms that are not defined have their art-recognized meanings.

As used in the specification and claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and“the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

The term “comprising” is intended to mean that the devices and methodsinclude the recited components or steps, but not excluding others.“Consisting essentially of” when used to define devices and methods,shall mean excluding other components or steps that would materiallyaffect the basic and novel characteristics of the technology.“Consisting of” shall mean excluding any components or steps notspecified in the claim. Embodiments defined by each of these transitionterms are within the scope of this disclosure.

“Solid support” refers to a solid material on which a compound can beattached during solid phase synthesis. This class of materials isexemplified as polystyrene, such as styrene cross-linked with 1-2%divinylbenzene, polyacrylamide, PEG-polystyrene (PEG-PS), PEG-basedsupports, which are composed of a PEG-polypropylene glycol network orPEG with polyamide or polystyrene, controlled pore glass, cellulosefibers, and highly cross-linked polystyrene, gel-type polymers supportedby rigid matrices.

The term “oligo” denotes a category, discussed above, that encompasses apolymer, having from 2 to about 150 covalently linked monomer units,that is characterized by (i) a sequence of 2′-deoxyribosenucleotideresidues (DNA), (ii) a sequence of ribonucleotide residues (RNA), or(iii) a sequence containing both 2′-deoxyribosenucleotide residues andribosenucleotide residues, which may be referred to as anoligonucleotide. The oligo category also encompasses polymers of peptidenucleic acid monomers (PNAs), in which the monomeric units are linked toeach other by an amide bond. In the present context an oligo also can bea heteropolymer that has both PNA monomers and RNA and/or DNA monomericunits.

The monomeric units of an oligonucleotide can be linked through aphosphodiester bond, a phosphorothioate bond, a methylphosphonate bond,or an amide (—C(O)—NH—) bond, as a function of the chemical nature ofmonomers used to synthesize the oligo. In a given embodiment the oligois functionalized through the conjugation of another group. The lattergroup also can be labeled with any manner of detectable group.

“Peptide” refers to a polymer amino acid monomers (whether or notnaturally occurring) linked by peptide bonds (also known as amide bonds)formed when the carboxyl carbon atom of the carboxylic acid group bondedto the alpha-carbon of one amino acid (or amino acid residue) becomescovalently bound to the amino nitrogen atom of the amino group bonded tothe alpha-carbon of an adjacent amino acid (or amino acid residue).Amino acids which have been incorporated into a peptide are termed aminoacid residues. Every peptide has an N-terminus and C-terminus residue onthe ends of the peptide (except for cyclic peptides). Peptides typicallyhave fewer than 50 amino acid residues. “Protein” refers polymers ofamino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds that have more amino acidresidues than peptides.

“Peptide nucleic acid” or PNA refers to synthetic polymers comprisingrepeating N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units linked by amide bonds. Thepurine (adenine (A) guanine (G)) and pyrimidine (thymine (T) andcytosine (C)) bases are attached to the backbone through methylenecarbonyl linkages. PNAs do not contain any pentose sugar moieties orphosphate groups. Examples of peptide nucleic acids are described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082 and 6,395,474.

“Peptide nucleic acid derivative” refers to a peptide nucleic acidwherein the N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine backbone or one or more bases aremodified, or which comprises additional moieties, as a metal complex ora detectable moiety. Illustrative of peptide nucleic acid derivativesare those described in Hudson et al., Pure Appl. Chem. 76: 1591-98(2004), Imoto, Nucleic Acids Symp Ser 52: 391-92 (2008), Ferrer et al.,Letters in Peptide Science 7: 195-206 (2000), Kramer et al., Metal IonsLife Sci. 10: 319-40 (2012), Verheijen et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 11:741-43 (2000), and Ganesh, Current Organic Chem. 4: 931-43 (2000).

“Conjugation functionality” refers to a functional group on a moleculethat can react with a functional group on another molecule resulting inconnection of the two molecules through the formation of one ore morecovalent bonds. Conjugation functionalities are designated as α, α′, β,β′, R^(1a), R^(1b), R^(2a), R^(2b), etc. and described herein. The twoconjugation functionalities that react with each other are referred toas complementary conjugation functionalities. For example, in thisspecification α and α′, β and β′, R^(1a) and R^(1b), R^(2a) and R^(2b)are pairs of complementary conjugation functionalities.

“Conjugation component” refers to a molecule, such as an oligo, havingat least one conjugation functionality.

“Conjugate linker” refers to a linker formed by reaction of aconjugation functionality of one conjugation component with acomplementary conjugation functionality of another conjugationcomponent. Conjugate linkers are designated as L² and L³, etc., and aredescribed herein.

“Conjugated molecule” refers to a molecule having two or moreconjugation components that are linked via a conjugate linker describedherein. A conjugated molecule may be a conjugation component if itcomprises a conjugation functionality.

“Alkyl” refers to monovalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl groupshaving from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms.“C_(u-v) alkyl” refers to alkyl groups having from u to v carbon atoms,wherein u and v are integers. This term includes, by way of example,linear and branched hydrocarbyl groups such as methyl (CH₃—), ethyl(CH₃CH₂—), n-propyl (CH₃CH₂CH₂—), isopropyl ((CH₃)₂CH—), n-butyl(CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂—), isobutyl ((CH₃)₂CHCH₂—), sec-butyl ((CH₃)(CH₃CH₂)CH—),t-butyl ((CH₃)₃C—), n-pentyl (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂—), and neopentyl((CH₃)₃CCH₂—).

“Alkenyl” refers to straight or branched hydrocarbyl groups having from2 to 6 carbon atoms and preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms and having atleast 1 and preferably from 1 to 2 sites of vinyl (>C═C<) unsaturation.Such groups are exemplified, for example, by vinyl, allyl, andbut-3-en-1-yl. Included within this term are the cis and trans isomersor mixtures of these isomers.

“Alkynyl” refers to straight or branched monovalent hydrocarbyl groupshaving from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms andhaving at least 1 and preferably from 1 to 2 sites of acetylenic (—C≡C—)unsaturation. Examples of such alkynyl groups include acetylenyl(—C≡CH), and propargyl (—CH₂C≡CH).

“Substituted alkyl” and “substituted C_(u-v) alkyl” encompass an alkylgroup having from 1 to 5 and, in some embodiments, 1 to 3 or 1 to 2substituents selected from the group consisting of alkenyl, substitutedalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl,acylamino, acyloxy, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl,aminothiocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aminosulfonyl,aminosulfonyloxy, aminosulfonylamino, amidino, aryl, substituted aryl,aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, arylthio, substituted arylthio, azido,carboxyl, carboxyl ester, (carboxyl ester)amino, (carboxyl ester)oxy,cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkyloxy, substitutedcycloalkyloxy, cycloalkylthio, substituted cycloalkylthio, guanidino,substituted guanidino, halo, hydroxy, hydroxyamino, alkoxyamino,hydrazino, substituted hydrazino, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,heteroaryloxy, substituted heteroaryloxy, heteroarylthio, substitutedheteroarylthio, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, heterocyclyloxy,substituted heterocyclyloxy, heterocyclylthio, substitutedheterocyclylthio, nitro, spirocycloalkyl, SO₃H, substituted sulfonyl,sulfonyloxy, thioacyl, thiocyanate, thiol, alkylthio, and substitutedalkylthio, where such substituents are defined in this specification.

“Substituted alkenyl” refers to alkenyl groups having from 1 to 3substituents, and preferably 1 to 2 substituents, selected from thegroup consisting of alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino,acyloxy, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl,aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aminosulfonyl, aminosulfonyloxy,aminosulfonylamino, amidino, aryl, substituted aryl, aryloxy,substituted aryloxy, arylthio, substituted arylthio, carboxyl, carboxylester, (carboxyl ester)amino, (carboxyl ester)oxy, cyano, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkyloxy, substituted cycloalkyloxy,cycloalkylthio, substituted cycloalkylthio, cycloalkenyl, substitutedcycloalkenyl, cycloalkenyloxy, substituted cycloalkenyloxy,cycloalkenylthio, substituted cycloalkenylthio, guanidino, substitutedguanidino, halo, hydroxy, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,heteroaryloxy, substituted heteroaryloxy, heteroarylthio, substitutedheteroarylthio, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, heterocyclyloxy,substituted heterocyclyloxy, heterocyclylthio, substitutedheterocyclylthio, nitro, SO₃H, substituted sulfonyl, sulfonyloxy,thioacyl, thiol, alkylthio, and substituted alkylthio, wherein saidsubstituents are defined herein and with the proviso that any hydroxysubstitution is not attached to a vinyl (unsaturated) carbon atom.

“Substituted alkynyl” refers to alkynyl groups having from 1 to 3substituents, and preferably 1 to 2 substituents, selected from thegroup consisting of alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino,acyloxy, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl,aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aminosulfonyl, aminosulfonyloxy,aminosulfonylamino, amidino, aryl, substituted aryl, aryloxy,substituted aryloxy, arylthio, substituted arylthio, carboxyl, carboxylester, (carboxyl ester)amino, (carboxyl ester)oxy, cyano, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkyloxy, substituted cycloalkyloxy,cycloalkylthio, substituted cycloalkylthio, cycloalkenyl, substitutedcycloalkenyl, cycloalkenyloxy, substituted cycloalkenyloxy,cycloalkenylthio, substituted cycloalkenylthio, guanidino, substitutedguanidino, halo, hydroxy, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,heteroaryloxy, substituted heteroaryloxy, heteroarylthio, substitutedheteroarylthio, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, heterocyclyloxy,substituted heterocyclyloxy, heterocyclylthio, substitutedheterocyclylthio, nitro, SO₃H, substituted sulfonyl, sulfonyloxy,thioacyl, thiol, alkylthio, and substituted alkylthio, wherein saidsubstituents are defined herein and with the proviso that any hydroxysubstitution is not attached to an acetylenic carbon atom.

“Alkoxy” refers to the group —O-alkyl wherein alkyl is defined herein.Alkoxy includes, by way of example, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy,isopropoxy, n-butoxy, t-butoxy, sec-butoxy, and n-pentoxy,

“Substituted alkoxy” refers to the group —O-(substituted alkyl) whereinsubstituted alkyl is defined herein.

“Acyl” refers to the groups H—C(O)—, alkyl-C(O)—, substitutedalkyl-C(O)—, alkenyl-C(O)—, substituted alkenyl-C(O)—, alkynyl-C(O)—,substituted alkynyl-C(O)—, cycloalkyl-C(O)—, substitutedcycloalkyl-C(O)—, cycloalkenyl-C(O)—, substituted cycloalkenyl-C(O)—,aryl-C(O)—, substituted aryl-C(O)—, heteroaryl-C(O)—, substitutedheteroaryl-C(O)—, heterocyclic-C(O)—, and substitutedheterocyclic-C(O)—, wherein alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl,substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic are as defined herein. Acyl includes the“acetyl” group CH₃C(O)—.

Acylamino” refers to the groups —NR¹⁵C(O)alkyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)substitutedalkyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)cycloalkyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)substituted cycloalkyl,—NR¹⁵C(O)cycloalkenyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)substituted cycloalkenyl,—NR¹⁵C(O)alkenyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)substituted alkenyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)alkynyl,—NR¹⁵C(O)substituted alkynyl, —NR¹⁵C(O)aryl, —NR¹⁵C(O)substituted aryl,—NR¹⁵C(O)heteroaryl, —NR¹⁵C(O)substituted heteroaryl,—NR¹⁵C(O)heterocyclic, and —NR¹⁵C(O)substituted heterocyclic wherein R¹⁵is hydrogen or alkyl and wherein alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl,substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic are as defined herein.

“Acyloxy” refers to the groups alkyl-C(O)O—, substituted alkyl-C(O)O—,alkenyl-C(O)O—, substituted alkenyl-C(O)O—, alkynyl-C(O)O—, substitutedalkynyl-C(O)O—, aryl-C(O)O—, substituted aryl-C(O)O—, cycloalkyl-C(O)O—,substituted cycloalkyl-C(O)O—, cycloalkenyl-C(O)O—, substitutedcycloalkenyl-C(O)O—, heteroaryl-C(O)O—, substituted heteroaryl-C(O)O—,heterocyclic-C(O)O—, and substituted heterocyclic-C(O)O— wherein alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substitutedcycloalkenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic are as definedherein.

“Amino” refers to the group —NH₂.

“Substituted amino” refers to the group —NR′R″ where R′ and R″ areindependently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, —SO₂-alkyl,—SO₂-substituted alkyl, —SO₂-alkenyl, —SO₂-substituted alkenyl,—SO₂-cycloalkyl, —SO₂-substituted cycloalkyl, —SO₂-cycloalkenyl,—SO₂-substituted cycloalkenyl, —SO₂-aryl, —SO₂-substituted aryl,—SO₂-heteroaryl, —SO₂-substituted heteroaryl, —SO₂-heterocyclic, and—SO₂-substituted heterocyclic and wherein R′ and R″ are optionallyjoined, together with the nitrogen bound thereto to form a heterocyclicor substituted heterocyclic group, provided that R′ and R″ are both nothydrogen, and wherein alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substitutedalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, substitutedcycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, substitutedaryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substitutedheterocyclic are as defined herein. When R′ is hydrogen and R″ is alkyl,the substituted amino group is sometimes referred to herein asalkylamino. When R′ and R″ are both alkyl, the substituted amino groupis sometimes referred to herein as dialkylamino. When referring to amonosubstituted amino, it is meant that either R′ or R″ is hydrogen butnot both. When referring to a disubstituted amino, it is meant thatneither R′ nor R″ are hydrogen.

“Aminocarbonyl” refers to the group —C(O)NR¹⁰R¹¹ where R¹⁰ and R¹¹ areindependently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic and where R¹⁰ andR¹¹ are optionally joined together with the nitrogen bound thereto toform a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic group, and whereinalkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic areas defined herein.

“Aminocarbonyloxy” refers to the group —OC(O)NR¹⁰R¹¹ where R¹⁰ and R¹¹are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic and where R¹⁰ andR¹¹ are optionally joined together with the nitrogen bound thereto toform a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic group, and whereinalkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic areas defined herein.

“Amidino” refers to the group —C(═NR¹²)NR¹⁰R¹¹ where R¹⁰, R¹¹, and R¹²are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic and where R¹⁰ andR¹¹ are optionally joined together with the nitrogen bound thereto toform a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic group, and whereinalkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic areas defined herein.

“Aryl” or “Ar” refers to a monovalent aromatic carbocyclic group of from6 to 14 carbon atoms having a single ring (e.g., phenyl) or multiplecondensed rings (e.g., naphthyl or anthryl) which condensed rings may ormay not be aromatic (e.g., 2-benzoxazolinone,2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one-7-yl, and the like) provided that the pointof attachment is at an aromatic carbon atom. Preferred aryl groupsinclude phenyl and naphthyl.

“Substituted aryl” refers to aryl groups which are substituted with 1 to5, preferably 1 to 3, or more preferably 1 to 2 substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alkoxy, substitutedalkoxy, acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, amino, substituted amino,aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy,aminosulfonyl, aminosulfonyloxy, aminosulfonylamino, amidino, aryl,substituted aryl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, arylthio, substitutedarylthio, carboxyl, carboxyl ester, (carboxyl ester)amino, (carboxylester)oxy, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkyloxy,substituted cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkylthio, substituted cycloalkylthio,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenyloxy, substitutedcycloalkenyloxy, cycloalkenylthio, substituted cycloalkenylthio,guanidino, substituted guanidino, halo, hydroxy, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, substituted heteroaryloxy, heteroarylthio,substituted heteroarylthio, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic,heterocyclyloxy, substituted heterocyclyloxy, heterocyclylthio,substituted heterocyclylthio, nitro, SO₃H, substituted sulfonyl,sulfonyloxy, thioacyl, thiol, alkylthio, and substituted alkylthio,wherein said substituents are defined herein.

“Aryloxy” refers to the group —O-aryl, where aryl is as defined herein,that includes, by way of example, phenoxy and naphthoxy.

“Substituted aryloxy” refers to the group —O-(substituted aryl) wheresubstituted aryl is as defined herein.

“Arylthio” refers to the group —S-aryl, where aryl is as defined herein.

“Substituted arylthio” refers to the group —S-(substituted aryl), wheresubstituted aryl is as defined herein.

“Carbonyl” refers to the divalent group —C(O)— which is equivalent to—C(═O)—.

“Carboxy” or “carboxyl” refers to —COOH or a salt thereof.

“Carboxy ester” refers to the groups —C(O)O-alkyl, —C(O)O-substitutedalkyl, —C(O)O-alkenyl, —C(O)O-substituted alkenyl, —C(O)O-alkynyl,—C(O)O-substituted alkynyl, —C(O)O-aryl, —C(O)O-substituted aryl,—C(O)O-cycloalkyl, —C(O)O-substituted cycloalkyl, —C(O)O-heteroaryl,—C(O)O-substituted heteroaryl, —C(O)O-heterocyclic, and—C(O)O-substituted heterocyclic wherein alkyl, substituted alkyl,alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic are as definedherein.

“(Carboxyl ester)amino” refers to the group —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-alkyl,—NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted alkyl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-alkenyl,—NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted alkenyl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-alkynyl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O—substituted alkynyl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-aryl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted aryl,—NR¹⁶—C(O)O-cycloalkyl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted cycloalkyl,—NR¹⁶—C(O)O-cycloalkenyl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted cycloalkenyl,—NR¹⁶—C(O)O-heteroaryl, —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted heteroaryl,—NR¹⁶—C(O)O-heterocyclic, and —NR¹⁶—C(O)O-substituted heterocyclicwherein R¹⁶ is alkyl or hydrogen, and wherein alkyl, substituted alkyl,alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl,substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic are as defined herein.

“Cyano” refers to the group —CN.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to cyclic alkyl groups of from 3 to 10 carbon atomshaving single or multiple cyclic rings including fused, bridged, andspiro ring systems. One or more of the rings can be aryl, heteroaryl, orheterocyclic provided that the point of attachment is through thenon-aromatic carbon. Examples of suitable cycloalkyl groups include, forinstance, adamantyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, andcyclooctyl. Other examples of cycloalkyl groups includebicycle[2,2,2,]octanyl, norbornyl, and spirobicyclo groups such asspiro[4.5]dec-8-yl:

“Cycloalkenyl” refers to non-aromatic cyclic alkyl groups of from 3 to10 carbon atoms having single or multiple cyclic rings and having atleast one >C═C< ring unsaturation and preferably from 1 to 2 sitesof >C═C< ring unsaturation.

“Substituted cycloalkyl” and “substituted cycloalkenyl” refers to acycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group having from 1 to 5 or preferably 1 to 3substituents selected from the group consisting of oxo, thione, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, amino,substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino,aminocarbonyloxy, aminosulfonyl, aminosulfonyloxy, aminosulfonylamino,amidino, aryl, substituted aryl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, arylthio,substituted arylthio, carboxyl, carboxyl ester, (carboxyl ester)amino,(carboxyl ester)oxy, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkyloxy, substituted cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkylthio, substitutedcycloalkylthio, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenyloxy,substituted cycloalkenyloxy, cycloalkenylthio, substitutedcycloalkenylthio, guanidino, substituted guanidino, halo, hydroxy,heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, substitutedheteroaryloxy, heteroarylthio, substituted heteroarylthio, heterocyclic,substituted heterocyclic, heterocyclyloxy, substituted heterocyclyloxy,heterocyclylthio, substituted heterocyclylthio, nitro, SO₃H, substitutedsulfonyl, sulfonyloxy, thioacyl, thiol, alkylthio, and substitutedalkylthio, wherein said substituents are defined herein.

“Cycloalkyloxy” refers to —O-cycloalkyl.

“Substituted cycloalkyloxy refers to —O-(substituted cycloalkyl).

“Cycloalkylthio” refers to —S-cycloalkyl.

“Substituted cycloalkylthio” refers to —S-(substituted cycloalkyl).

“Halo” or “halogen” refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

“Haloalkyl” refers to an alkyl group in which one or more hydrogen atomsare replaced by a halogen selected from chlorine, fluorine, bromine oriodine.

“Haloalkoxy” refers to —O-alkyl group in which one or more hydrogenatoms of the alkyl group are replaced by a halogen selected fromchlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine.

“Haloalkylthio” refers to —S-alkyl group in which one or more hydrogenatoms of the alkyl group are replaced by a halogen selected fromchlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine.

“Hydroxy” or “hydroxyl” refers to the group —OH.

“Heteroaryl” refers to a monocyclic aromatic group having 5 to 6 carbonatoms or a bicyclic ring having 8 to 10 carbon atoms containing 1 to 4heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen,nitrogen and sulfur within the ring. Such heteroaryl groups can have asingle ring (e.g., pyridinyl or furyl) or multiple condensed rings(e.g., indolizinyl or benzothienyl) wherein the condensed rings may ormay not be aromatic and/or contain a heteroatom provided that the pointof attachment is through an atom of the aromatic heteroaryl group. Inone embodiment, the nitrogen and/or the sulfur ring atom(s) of theheteroaryl group are optionally oxidized to provide for the N-oxide(N→O), sulfinyl, or sulfonyl moieties. Preferred heteroaryls includepyridinyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, thiophenyl, and furanyl.

“Substituted heteroaryl” refers to heteroaryl groups that aresubstituted with from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 3, or more preferably 1 to2 substituents selected from the group consisting of the same group ofsubstituents defined for substituted aryl.

“Heteroaryloxy” refers to —O-heteroaryl.

“Substituted heteroaryloxy refers to the group —O-(substitutedheteroaryl).

“Heteroarylthio” refers to the group —S-heteroaryl.

“Substituted heteroarylthio” refers to the group —S-(substitutedheteroaryl).

“Heterocycle” or “heterocyclic” or “heterocycloalkyl” or “heterocyclyl”refers to a saturated or partially saturated, but not aromatic, grouphaving from 1 to 10 ring carbon atoms and from 1 to 4 ring heteroatomsselected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen.Heterocycle encompasses single ring or multiple condensed rings,including fused bridged and spiro ring systems. In fused ring systems,one or more the rings can be cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl providedthat the point of attachment is through the non-aromatic ring. In oneembodiment, the nitrogen and/or sulfur atom(s) of the heterocyclic groupare optionally oxidized to provide for the N-oxide, sulfinyl, orsulfonyl moieties.

“Substituted heterocyclic” or “substituted heterocycloalkyl” or“substituted heterocyclyl” refers to heterocyclyl groups that aresubstituted with from 1 to 5 or preferably 1 to 3 of the samesubstituents as defined for substituted cycloalkyl.

“Heterocyclyloxy” refers to the group —O-heterocycyl.

“Substituted heterocyclyloxy refers to the group —O-(substitutedheterocycyl).

“Heterocyclylthio” refers to the group —S-heterocycyl.

“Substituted heterocyclylthio” refers to the group —S-(substitutedheterocycyl).

Examples of heterocycle and heteroaryls include, but are not limited to,azetidine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine,pyridazine, indolizine, isoindole, indole, dihydroindole, indazole,purine, quinolizine, isoquinoline, quinoline, phthalazine,naphthylpyridine, quinoxaline, quinazoline, cinnoline, pteridine,carbazole, carboline, phenanthridine, acridine, phenanthroline,isothiazole, phenazine, isoxazole, phenoxazine, phenothiazine,imidazolidine, imidazoline, piperidine, piperazine, indoline,phthalimide, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline,4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene, thiazole, thiazolidine, thiophene,benzo[b]thiophene, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl (also referred to asthiamorpholinyl), 1,1-dioxothiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidine,and tetrahydrofuranyl.

“Nitro” refers to the group —NO₂.

“Oxo” refers to the atom (═O) or (—O′).

“Spiro ring systems” refers to bicyclic ring systems that have a singlering carbon atom common to both rings.

“Thioacyl” refers to the groups H—C(S)—, alkyl-C(S)—, substitutedalkyl-C(S)—, alkenyl-C(S)—, substituted alkenyl-C(S)—, alkynyl-C(S)—,substituted alkynyl-C(S)—, cycloalkyl-C(S)—, substitutedcycloalkyl-C(S)—, cycloalkenyl-C(S)—, substituted cycloalkenyl-C(S)—,aryl-C(S)—, substituted aryl-C(S)—, heteroaryl-C(S)—, substitutedheteroaryl-C(S)—, heterocyclic-C(S)—, and substitutedheterocyclic-C(S)—, wherein alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl,substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic are as defined herein.

“Thiol” or “thio” refers to the group —SH.

“Thioether” refers to the group —S—.

“Alkylthio” refers to the group —S-alkyl wherein alkyl is as definedherein.

“Thiocarbonyl” refers to the divalent group —C(S)— which is equivalentto —C(═S)—.

“Thione” refers to the atom (═S).

“Substituted alkylthio” refers to the group —S-(substituted alkyl)wherein substituted alkyl is as defined herein.

“Azido” denotes the group —N₃.

“Amino protecting” groups are known in the field and illustrated byN-tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-Boc), 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc),carboxybenzyl (Cbz), acetyl (Ac), benzoyl (Bz), p-methoxybenzyl carbonyl(Moz or MeOZ), benzyl (Bn), p-methoxybenzyl (PMB), 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl(DMPM), p-methoxyphenyl (PMP), etc.

“Phosphate” means —O—P(═O)(OH)₂.

“Phosphate ester” refers to —O—P(═O)(OH)(OR²³), wherein R²³ is selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl,alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl,substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic.

“Phosphoramidate” refers to the dianionic form of phosphoramidic acid[(OH)₂P(O)NH₂].

“Phosphonates” are organic compounds containing R²³—PO(OH)₂ orR²³—PO(OR)₂ groups where R is alkyl or aryl and R²³ is selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substitutedaryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic.

“Phosphorothioate” refers to

as well as to tautomers of these species, where “tautomer” denotesalternate forms of a compound that differ in the position of a proton.

General Conjugation Methodology

In one aspect, provided herewith is a method of preparing a solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule of the formula

wherein the method composes(i) attaching a conjugation component of the formula

wherein R² is R^(2a) or R^(2ap),

to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

(ii) when R² is R^(2ap), converting

to

and(iii) reacting

with a conjugation component of the formula

wherein R³ is R^(3a) or R^(3ap), or R³ is selected from —OH, adetectable label, or another oligo;

to form

wherein:

is a solid support material;

are each independently selected from the group oligo;

R^(1a) and R^(1b) are complementary conjugation functionalities, L¹ isconjugate linker, and R^(1a), R^(1b), and L¹ are:

-   -   (a) R^(1a) is azido, R^(1b) is —C≡C—R²³, and L¹ is

or

-   -   (b) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is carboxy, and L¹ is —NR²³C(═O)—,        or    -   (c) R^(1a) is carboxy, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —C(═O)NR²³—,        or    -   (d) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is halo, and L¹ is —NR²³—, or    -   (e) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is hydroxy, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (f) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR¹³—, or    -   (g) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h) R^(1a) is —X, R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is —S—, or    -   (i) R^(1a) is

R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is

or

-   -   (j) R^(1a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(1b) is azido, and L¹ is

or

-   -   (k) R^(1a) is halo, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —NR²³—, or    -   (l) R^(1a) is hydroxy, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (m) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is        —NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (n) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (o) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(1b) is —X, and L¹ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (p) R^(1a) is —X, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L¹ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (q) R^(1a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, L¹ is        —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (r) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L¹ is        —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or    -   (s) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is —X, and L¹ is —S—, or    -   (t) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is

and L¹ is

-   -   (u) R^(1a) is —SH, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(—O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH), and        L¹ is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—.

In the above characterization of R^(1a) and R^(1b) group X is selectedfrom chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, ordimethoxy triflate where n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Similarly, R^(2a) and R^(2b) are complementary conjugationfunctionalities, L² is conjugate linker, and R^(2ap), R^(2a), R^(2b),and L² are:

-   -   (a′) R^(2ap) is halo, R^(2a) is azido, R^(2b) is —C≡C—R²³, and        L² is

or

-   -   (b′) R^(2ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is carboxy,        and L² is —NR²³C(═O)—, or    -   (c′) R^(2ap) is carboxy ester, R^(2a) is carboxy, R^(2b) is        —NHR²³, and L² is —C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (d′) R^(2ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is halo, and        L² is —NR²³—, or    -   (e′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is hydroxy, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—,        or    -   (f′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—,        or    -   (g′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is thio, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h′) R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is thio, and L² is —S—, or    -   (i′) R^(2a) is

R^(2b) is thio, and L² is

or

-   -   (j′) R^(2a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(2b) is azido, and L² is

or

-   -   (k′) R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is —NR²³—, or    -   (l′) R^(2a) is hydroxy, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (m′) R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is        —NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (n′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (o′) R^(2ap) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, R^(2a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH,        R^(2b) is halo, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (p′) R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L² is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (q′) R^(2a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(2b) is —NHR²³, L² is        —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (r′) R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L² is        —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or    -   (s′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is —X, and L² is —S—, or    -   (t′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is

or

-   -   (u′) R^(2a) is —SH, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(—O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH), and        L² is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—.

In the above characterization of R^(1a) and R^(1b) group X is selectedfrom chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, ordimethoxy triflate

Substituent R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl,substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substitutedcycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl,substituted cycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl,heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic, Pr is an amino protectinggroup, R²⁴ can be trityl or benzyl, substituent R²⁵ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl and s is an integer greater than 1, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20.

For polymeric compounds synthesized using the inventive methodology,substituent R^(3ap) is a protected conjugation functionality selectedfrom the group consisting of halo, —NR²³Pr, —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, carboxyester, phosphate and phosphate ester; and R^(3a) is a conjugationfunctionality selected from the group consisting of azido, —C≡C—R²³,—NHR²³, carboxy, halo, hydroxy, —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SHand —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), where X is as defined above. In accordance with theinventive methodology, R² is not permitted to react with R^(1a) orR^(1b), nor is R³ permitted to react with R^(2a) or R^(2b). As discussedabove, the symbol ----- represents the point of connection to the partof the solid support-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method isprovided for preparing a solid support-bound conjugated molecule of theformula:

where the method comprises the following steps. When R³ is a protectedconjugation functionality, such as the group R^(3ap), deprotectingR^(3ap) to convert

to

in a deprotection step. The deprotection step is followed by aconjugation step in which the solid support-bound conjugated moleculeaccording to formula

having a reactive conjugation functionality R^(3a) is contacted with aconjugation component according to formula

to form a solid support-bound conjugated molecule as illustrated below:

Substituent R⁴ in the obtained product is a group selected from halo,—NR²³Pr, —OH, —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, carboxy ester, phosphate, phosphateester, azido, —C≡C—R²³, —NHR²³, carboxy, hydroxy,—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, or —O—P(═O)(OH)(X). R⁴ can alsobe a detectable label or another oligo selected from DNA, RNA, a polymercontaining both DNA and RNA residues, or a polymer composed entirely ofPNA monomers. In any event, R⁴ does not react with R^(3a) or R^(3b).

The bond L¹ that binds the desired product to the solid support can becleaved via a suitable cleavage method to give a conjugated molecule ofthe formula:

The method used to cleave the oligo product from the resin support willdepend on the type of resin used to synthesize the oligo product, thechemical structure of L¹, the chemical identity of the other linkers(e.g., L², L³) in the product, as well as the stability of monomergroups in Oligos A, B and C to chemical reagents used to cleave theconjugated molecule from the solid support. The choice for using aparticular resin will depend on protocols used for coupling the firstmonomer, the cleavage conditions to be used to obtain final product inhigh yield and the desired functionality, that is, the chemical natureof terminal group “Z” in the cleaved final product. Illustrativecleavage protocols are further described below. Several types of resinsupports are commercially available. Exemplary of such supports withoutlimitation are the controlled pore glass, PAM resin, benzhydrylamineresin (BHA), Wang resin, oxime resin (Kaiser), HMBA resin, Rink amideresin and PAL resin. Depending on the resin used, Z in the cleavedproduct can be any one of the following groups —OH,OH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, —COOH, NH₂C(O)—, NH₂NH—C(O)—,COOH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, NH₂C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,NH₂NH—C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, CH₂═CH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,C≡C—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- or HS—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- and the alkylene can beoptionally substituted by one or more groups selected from —OH, halogen,—NHR″, —NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-C≡CH, or —NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-CH═CH₂with R″ defined as above. Illustrative of reagents used to cleave theoligo product from the solid support include UV light, acids such astrifluoromethane sulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, hydrogen bromide,acetic acid. Nucleophilic reagents such as sodium hydroxide, hydrazine,alcohols primary amines and hydrides can be used to cleave the oligoproduct off HMBA and oxime resins. If the oligo is conjugated to solidsupport “S” through a disulfide linkage, cleavage of the oligo productfrom the solid support can be facilitated using a reducing agents.Illustrative of reagents suitable for cleaving a disulfide bond withoutlimitation are β-mercaptoethanol dithiothreitol (DTT),tris-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), or hydride reagents such assodium borohydride and sodium cyanoborohydride. Depending on thecleaving reagent used oligo products having a terminal amide group,carboxylic acid group, alcohol group, aldehyde group or hydrazide groupare obtained.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises repeating deprotectionand conjugation steps described above “n” times to form a solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule of the formula:

wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 1, for example, aninteger of between 1 and 50, or 1 and 25, or 1 and 20, or 1 and 10, andeach

is independently selected from the above-discussed oligo category.

In the above method, the intermediate product after each conjugationstep has a terminal group R⁴. When R⁴ is a conjugation functionalityselected from the group consisting of azido, —C≡C—R²³, —NHR²³, carboxy,halo, hydroxy, —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SH and—O—P(═O)(OH)Br, R⁴ is R^(3a) and the deprotection step of converting R⁴to R^(3a) may be omitted. When the R⁴ is a group selected from halo,—NR²³Pr, —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, carboxy ester, phosphate or phosphate ester,the terminal protected conjugation functionality R⁴ is first deprotectedto obtain an intermediate that has the reactive conjugationfunctionality R^(3a) described above. This intermediate then can becontacted with the next conjugation component

so as to permit a reaction between complementary conjugationfunctionalities R^(3a) and R^(3b), so as to covalently bond another

to the solid support-bound conjugated molecule.

After completion of the reaction sequence, the bond L¹ is cleaved undersuitable cleavage conditions to give a conjugated molecule of theformula:

with Z being a group is as defined above.

For conjugated molecules that comport with the above formula, each setof R^(3ap), R^(3a), R^(3b), and L³ is independently selected from

-   -   (a″) R^(3ap) is halo, R^(3a) is azido, R^(3b) is —C≡C—R²³, and        L³ is

or

-   -   (b″) R^(3ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is carboxy,        and L³ is —NR²³C(═O)—, or    -   (c″) R^(3ap) is carboxy ester, R^(3a) is carboxy, R^(3b) is        —NHR²³, and L³ is —C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (d″) R^(3ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is halo, and        L³ is —NR²³—, or    -   (e″) R^(3ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(3a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is hydroxy, and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—,        or    -   (f″) R^(3ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(3a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—,        or    -   (g″) R^(3ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(3a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h″) R^(3a) is —X, R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is —S—, or    -   (i″) R^(3a) is

R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is

or

-   -   (j″) R^(3a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(3b) is azido, and L³ is

or

-   -   (k″) R^(3a) is halo, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is —NR²³—, or    -   (l″) R^(3a) is hydroxy, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (m″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is        —NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (n″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (o″) R^(3ap) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH,        R^(3b) is —X, and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (p″) R^(3a) is —X, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L³ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (q″) R^(3a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, L³ is        —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (r″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L³ is        —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or    -   (s″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is —X, and L³ is —S—, or    -   (t″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is

and L³ is

or

-   -   (u″) R^(3a) is —SH, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and        L³ is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—.

An embodiment of this general process is illustrated in Scheme 1.

In Scheme 1, m is an integer starting from 1 and increasing by 1 aftereach optional deprotection and conjugation steps to a predeterminedvalue “n”. According to the protocol illustrated in Scheme 1, subscript“n” in the resin bound conjugated molecule is an integer between 0 and25, for example, “n” can be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14,16, 18, 20, 22, or 24. Other variables are as defined above.

Asymmetric Conjugation Methodology

In another aspect, is provided a method of preparing a compound of theformula

using an asymmetric conjugation strategy. According to this methodology,a conjugation component according to formula

is attached

to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

This intermediate then is allowed to react with a conjugation componentof the formula

thereby to form

A solid support material

is used for synthesis, with each of

being selected independently from the category oligo described above.

R³ is R^(3a), a detectable label or an oligo. R^(1a), R^(1b) and R^(2a),R^(2b) are complementary conjugation functionalities, and L¹ and L² areconjugate linkers formed by reaction between R^(1a) and R^(1b) andbetween R^(2a) and R^(2b), respectively. R^(1a), R^(1b), L¹, R^(2a),R^(2b), L², and R^(3a) are selected from:

R^(1a), R^(2a), or R^(3a) R^(1b) or R^(2b) L¹ or L² —C≡C—R²³ azido

azido —C≡C—R²³

carboxy —NHR²³ —C(═O)NR²³— —NHR²³ carboxy —NR²³C(═O)— halo —NHR²³ —NR²³——NR²³ halo —NR²³— hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —O—P(═O)(OH)—O——O—P(═O)(OH)(X) hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)—O— —NHR²³ —O—P(═O)(OH)(X)—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —NHR²³ —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³— thio—O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —S—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) thio —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—thiol —X —S— —X thio —S— —O—P(═O)(OH)SH —X —O—P(═O)(OH)—S— —X—O—P(═O)(OH)SH —S—P(═O)(OH)—O— —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³ —NHR²³—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³— —NHR²³ —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³—NHR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)— thio

thio

—SH —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—S—S—X is a group selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate,mesylate, triflate, or dimethoxy triflate and the selection of R^(1a),R^(2a), or R^(3a) are independent of each other provided that L¹ and L²are different, R^(2a) does not react with R^(1a) or R^(1b), and R^(3a)does not react with R^(2a) or R^(2b);

R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substitutedcycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic; and

----- represents the point of connection to the solid support-boundconjugated molecule that is closer to

while

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

In accordance with the invention, a method also is provided for themanufacture of a solid support-bounded conjugated molecule according tothe following formula:

According to this method, a compound according to formula

is reacted with a conjugation component

to obtain the following polymer

R⁴ in such as polymer can be a conjugation functionality selected fromthe definitions for conjugation functionalities R^(1a), R^(2a), orR^(3a), provided above, a detectable label or a polymer encompassed bythe category oligo described above, provided that R⁴ does not react withR^(3a) or R^(3b).

Upon completion of the synthesis, the target polymer is cleaved from thesolid support using a suitable cleavage method to give

where Z is selected from —OH, OH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, —COOH, NH₂C(O)—,NH₂NH—C(O)—, COOH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, NH₂C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,NH₂NH—C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, CH₂═CH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,C≡C—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- or HS—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- and the alkylene can beoptionally substituted by one or more groups selected from —OH, halogen,—NHR″, —NHC(O)—C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-C≡CH, or —NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-CH═CH₂.When the alkylene is substituted with an —NHR″ group, variable R″ isselected from (C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, (C₃-C₁₀)cycloalkyl, or (C₃-C₁₀)aryl.Reagents that are useful for cleaving the oligo product from the solidsupport are similar to the ones described above.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises repeating theconjugation step “n” times to form a solid support-bound conjugatedmolecule according to the following formula:

wherein n is an integer of equal to or greater than 1, and each

is independently selected from the category oligo described above.

In the above method, the intermediate product after each conjugationstep has a terminal group R⁴. When the R⁴ is a conjugation functionalityR^(3a), this group permits the intermediate to react in subsequentconjugation steps with a complementary conjugation functionality R^(3b)that is present on one end of a conjugation component of the formula:

to add

to the solid support-bound conjugated molecule.

After completion of the reaction sequence, the bond L¹ that binds thedesired product to the solid support is cleaved under suitable cleavageconditions to give a conjugated molecule of the formula:

where the terminal group Z is defined above.

Each set of R^(3a), R^(3b), and L³ is independently selected from

-   -   (a″) R^(3a) is azido, R^(3b) is —C≡C—R²³, and L³ is

or

-   -   (b″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is carboxy, and L³ is —C(═O)NR²³—,        or    -   (c″) R^(3a) is carboxy, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is —C(═O)NR²³—,        or    -   (d″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is halo, and L³ is —NR²³—, or    -   (e″) R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is hydroxy, and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (f″) R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L² is        —NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (g″) R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is        —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (h″) R^(3a) is —X, R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is —S—, or    -   (i″) R^(3a) is

R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is

or

-   -   (j″) R^(3a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(3b) is azido, and L³ is

or

-   -   (k″) R^(3a) is halo, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is —NR²³—, or    -   (l″) R^(3a) is hydroxy, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (m″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—, or    -   (n″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (o″) R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(3b) is —X, and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (p″) R^(3a) is —X, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L³ is        —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (q″) R^(3a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, L³ is        —C(═O)NR²³—,    -   (r″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L³ is        —NR²³C(═O)—, or    -   (s″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is —X, and L³ is —S—, or    -   (t″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is

and L³ is

or

-   -   (u″) R^(3a) is —SH, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and        L³ is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—, where group X in        conjugation functionalities R^(3a) and R^(3b) is as defined        above.

An embodiment of this process is illustrated in Scheme 2. In Scheme 2, mis an integer starting from 1 and increasing by 1 after each conjugationstep until a conjugated molecule having the prescribed number (“n”) ofoligo units is obtained, where “n” is an integer between 0 and 25, forexample, “n” can be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18,20, 22, or 24. The definitions for variables R^(1a), R^(1b), R^(2a),R^(2b), R^(3a), R^(3b) and R⁴ are as defined above.

Symmetric Conjugation Methodology

In still another aspect, provided herewith is a method of preparing acompound of the formula

comprising(i) attaching a conjugation component of the formula

to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

(ii) converting

to

and(iii) reacting

with a conjugation component of the formula

to form

where:

is a solid support material;

are each independently selected from polymers encompassed by thecategory oligo defined above;

According to this synthetic methodology, R³ can either be a protectedconjugation functionality R^(ap), or R³ is a group selected from adetectable label or a polymer of the category oligo. R^(a) and R^(b) arecomplementary conjugation functionalities and L is conjugate linkerformed by reaction of R^(a) and R^(b). R^(ap), R^(a), R^(b), and L areeach independently selected from

-   -   (a) R^(ap) is halo, R^(a) is azido, R^(b) is —C≡C—R²³, and L is

or

-   -   (b) R^(ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(a) is —NHR²³, R^(b) is carboxy, and L        is —NR²³C(═O)—, or    -   (c) R^(ap) is carboxy ester, R^(a) is carboxy, R^(b) is —NHR²³,        and L is —C(═O)NR²³—, or    -   (d) R^(ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(a) is —NHR²³, R^(b) is halo, and L is        —NR²³—, or    -   (e) R^(ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(b) is hydroxy, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or    -   (f) R^(ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(b) is —NHR²³, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—,        or    -   (g) R^(ap) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, R^(a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(b)        is —X, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or    -   (h) R^(ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(a) is        —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(b) is thio, and L is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—    -   (i) R^(ap) is —SR²⁴, R^(a) is —SH, R^(b) is        HS—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O— and L is —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)        O—P(OH)(═O)—O—;

R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substitutedcycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic;

X is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate,triflate, or dimethoxy triflate;

Pr is an amino protecting group;

R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl;

----- represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method forpreparing a solid support-bound conjugated molecule of the formula:

where the compound of formula

in which R³ is a protected functional group R^(ap) is deprotected toobtain a reactive intermediate

subsequently is contacted with a conjugation component according toformula:

to form

In this embodiment, R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of R^(ap),a detectable label or a polymer from category oligo.

The bond L that binds the desired product to the solid support can becleaved under suitable cleavage conditions to give a conjugated moleculeof the formula:

In some embodiments, the method further comprises repeating thedeprotection and conjugation steps “n” times to form a solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule of the formula:

Integer n in the product obtained using the described method can have avalue equal to or greater than 1, and each

is independently selected from polymers within the category oligo.

According to the above-described method, the intermediate product aftereach conjugation step has a terminal group R⁴. When the R⁴ is R^(ap), R⁴is first converted to a conjugation functionality R^(a) and then iscontacted with a complementary conjugation functionality R^(b) that ispresent on one end of the conjugation component of the formula:

to add a

to the solid support-bound conjugated molecule.

After completing the synthesis to obtain a solid support-boundconjugated molecule that has the specified number of

groups, the bond L that binds the final product to the solid support iscleaved under suitable cleavage conditions to give a resin freeconjugated molecule according to formula:

Depending on the nature of the solid support used for synthesis,terminal group Z in the resin free product is a group selected from —OH,OH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, —COOH, NH₂C(O)—, NH₂NH—C(O)—,COOH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, NH₂C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,NH₂NH—CO—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, CH₂═CH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,C≡C—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- or HS—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- and the alkylene can beoptionally substituted by one or more groups selected from —OH, halogen,—NHR″, —NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-C≡CH, or—NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-CH═CH₂. Reagents suitable for cleaving theoligo are as defined above.

In this embodiment, all R^(ap) are the same, all R^(a) are the same,R^(b) are the same, and each L is the same, and these variables are asdefined above.

An embodiment of this process is illustrated in Scheme 3. In Scheme 3,“m” is an integer that starts from 1 and increases by 1, after each pairof deprotection and conjugation steps, until a conjugated moleculehaving the prescribed number (“n”) of oligo units is obtained, where “n”is an integer between 0 and 25, for example, “n” can be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, or 24. Other variables are asdefined above.

In some embodiments of the inventive methodology, general, asymmetric orsymmetric, R²³ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In some embodiments of the inventive methodology, general, asymmetric orsymmetric, the conjugation functionalities and the conjugate linker are:

R^(a), R^(1a), R^(2a), or R^(3a) R^(b), R^(1b), R^(2b), or R^(3b) L, L¹,L², or L³ —C≡C—H azido

azido —C≡C—H

carboxy —NH₂ —C(═O)NH— —NH₂ carboxy —NHC(═O)— halo —NH₂ —NH— —NH₂ halo—NH— hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —O—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) hydroxy—O—P(═O)(OH)—O— —NH₂ —O—P(═O)(OH)B(X) —NH—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X)—NH₂ —O—P(═O)(OH)—NH— thio —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —S—P(═O)(OH)—O——O—P(═O)(OH)(X) thio —O—P(═O)(OH)—S— thio —X —S— —X thio —S——O—P(═O)(OH)SH —X —O—P(═O)(OH)—S— —X —O—P(═O)(OH)SH —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—

—NH₂ —(CH₂)_(s)C(═O)NH— —NH₂

—NHC(═O)—(CH₂)_(s)— thio

thio

—SH —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—S—S—

Conjugation Components

In another aspect, the invention provides a solid support represented bythe formula:

wherein:

is a solid support material;

is selected from the category oligo;

R² is R^(2a) or R^(2ap);

R^(2ap) is selected from the group consisting of halo, NR²³Pr, carboxyester, —NR²³Pr, —OH, phosphate, phosphate ester, and —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴,

R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of halo, azido, hydroxy,thio, —NHR²³, carboxy, —NHR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)(SH),

—C≡C—R²³, and —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³; R²³ is selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substitutedalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl,cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substitutedcycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substituted cycloalkynyl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic;

Pr is an amino protecting group;

R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl;

R²⁵ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl;

s is an integer of greater than 1; and

represents the point of connection to

In another aspect, the invention provides a compound according toformula:

wherein R² is R^(2a) or R^(2ap),

is selected from the category oligo;

R^(1b) is selected from the group consisting of —C≡C—R²³, carboxy,—NHR²³, halo, hydroxy, thio, azido, —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), —O—P(═O)(OH)SH,—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, and

R^(2ap) is selected from the group consisting of halo, NR²³Pr, carboxyester, —OH, phosphate, phosphate ester, and —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴;

R^(2a) is selected from the group consisting of halo, azido, hydroxy,thio, —NHR²³, carboxy, —O—P(═O)(OH)Br,

—C≡C—R²³, —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³ and —O—P(═O)(OH)SH;

R²³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substitutedalkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substitutedcycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, andsubstituted heterocyclic;

R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl;

Pr is an amino protecting group;

and

represents the point of connection to

provided that R² does not react with R^(1b).

Labels

Pursuant to the invention, a conjugated molecule or a components of suchmolecule can comprise one or more labels that are attached directly orthrough a linker. Such labeling can permit detection of the presence,the whereabouts and/or the quantity of a certain conjugation componentor of conjugated molecules. For instance, the labeling can allowdifferentiation of different conjugation components or conjugatedmolecules in a nano-scale information processing system as above.

In this regard, a “label” is a group that can be detected by any means.Accordingly, the category of suitable labels includes but is not limitedto fluorescent moieties, bioluminescent moieties, chemiluminescentmoieties, colorimetric moieties, enzymatic moieties that generate adetectable signal when contacted with a substrate, spectrally resolvablequantum dots, metal nanoparticles or nanoclusters, paramagnetic,superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic substances, fluorophores, quenchers,and the like. A label also can be a group that carries a radioactiveatom, such as Gallium-67 and Indium-111. In addition, a label can bepolypeptide or protein that acts as a receptor or as a ligand for acognate molecule the binding of which generates a detectable signal.

Examples of detectable moieties conjugated to another molecule aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,855,225 and 5,188,934, in U.S. patentapplication publications No. 2005/0112065, No. 2007/0110798 and No.2011/0077169, in published international application WO1991/005060, andin Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 20: 2471-483 (1992). Additionally,multiple detectable groups can be attached to a single conjugationcomponent or to a conjugated molecule to provide a combined signal thatallows the conjugation component or conjugated molecule to be identifiedand distinguished from others to which are attached a differentdetectable moiety or a different set of detectable groups. That suchcombinations of detectable groups are known is evidenced, for example,those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,609 and in Speicher et al.,Nature Genetics 12: 368-75 (1996).

Fluorophores, also known as fluorescent dyes, are detectable groups thatabsorb light energy at a defined excitation wavelength and emit lightenergy at a different wavelength. Different fluorophores can be selectedfor use to give a mixture detectable groups that can be detected basedon their spectral characteristics, particularly fluorescence emissionwavelength and/or intensity, under certain detection conditions.

Quenchers are detectable groups that are capable of absorbing the energyof an excited fluorescent detectable group when located in closeproximity with the excited fluorescent detectable group and ofdissipating that energy without the emission of visible light. Examplesof quenchers include, but are not limited to, DABCYL(4-(4′-dimethylaminophenylazo)benzoic acid) succinimidyl ester,diarylrhodamine carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester (QSY-7), and4′,5′-dinitrofluorescein carboxylic acid, succinimidyl ester (QSY-33)(all available from Molecular Probes), quencherl (Q1; available fromEpoch), or “black hole quenchers” BHQ-1, BHQ-2, and BHQ-3 (availablefrom BioSearch, Inc.).

In some embodiments, the detectable group is selected from:

Name Structure pyrene azide (N-(3-Azidopropyl)- 4-pyren-1-yl-butyramide)

hydroxy-coumarin azide (3- Azido-7-hydroxycoumarin)

5-FAM azide (N-(3-azidopropyl)- 3′,6′-dihydroxy-3-oxo-3H-spiro[isobenzofuran-1,9′- xanthene]-5-carboxamide)

Cy3 azide

Cy5-azide

TAMRA alkyne (5- Carboxytetramethylrhodamine, Propargylamide)

5-(Bromomethyl) Fluorescein

Dabcyl Succinimidyl Ester (4-((4- (dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoic Acid

Alexa Fluor 430 Carboxylic Acid, Succinimidyl Ester

Use of the Conjugated Molecules

The conjugated molecules prepared by the methods described herein can beused to develop molecular processing networks, of different sizes andcomplexities, that are comprised of conditional nucleic acid-exchangereactions. The conjugated molecules also can be useful as biologicaltransistors, which can constitute integrated circuits for executingcompound logic functions, e.g., in diagnostic or therapeutic contextsthat entail targeting of neoplastic or virus-infected cells. Thus,conjugated molecules of the invention can be employed to implementnano-scale information processing systems, suitable for solvingcomputational problems in a test tube or in a cell. See U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/072,438. As noted above, such nano-scale systemscan be compatible with biological environments and have the potentialfor use in the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases, among otherapplications.

Use of conjugated molecules of the invention in the manner describedhere typically will entail transport of the molecules into cells. Anymethodology suitable for such intracellular delivery can be employed.Illustrative of reagents that promote delivery into cells ofmacromolecules, such as the conjugated molecules of the invention, aretransfecting agents, liposomes, dendrimers, cholesterol, see Percot etal., Int'l J. Pharm. 278: 143-63 (2004), and delivery peptides andproteins, including polyamines such as carboxy spermine, poly-Arginine,poly-Lysine and the RGD peptide.

Thus, transport across a cell membrane could be achieved by coupling aninventive oligo covalently to a peptide that contains a cellinternalization signal, a nuclear or sub-cellular localization signal,and/or a cell targeting and endocytosis-triggering signal. Such apeptide can be naturally-occurring or derived from synthetic orengineered proteins; e.g., the peptide can be a synthetic functionalequivalent of naturally-occurring peptide. See Luo et al., NatureBiotechnology 18: 33-37 (2000), and U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,770.

Cell delivery peptides and proteins can be covalently linked to theinventive oligo by a disulfide linkage. Typically, the cell deliverypeptide containing a cysteine residue will be allowed to contact a freesulfhydryl containing oligo under oxidative conditions to facilitate theformation of the disulfide linkage. The progress of the conjugationreaction and eventual purification of the conjugated product can beperformed by HPLC, using a C-18 reverse-phase column, and mass spectralanalysis for identification of the product.

According to one delivery strategy, a cell delivery peptide or proteinwill be first bound to the inventive oligo. The peptide- orprotein-oligo complex then will be admixed with a transfection agent ormixture of agents, and the resulting mixture will be employed to deliverthe oligo into cells. Suitable transfection agents include cationiclipid compositions, particularly monovalent and polyvalent cationiclipid compositions, more particularly LIPOFECTIN®, LIPOFECTAMINE®,CELLFECTIN®, DMRIE-C®, DOTAP®, and DOSPER®, and dendrimer compositions,particularly G5-G10 dendrimers, including dense star dendrimers,poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAM®), grafted dendrimers, and dendrimersknown as dendrigrafts and SuperFect®.

General Synthetic Methods

The starting materials for preparing conjugated molecules according tothe present invention include but are limited to, oligonucleotides,nucleotide monomers, peptides, proteins, amino acids, peptide nucleicacids and peptide nucleic acid derivatives. The starting materials canbe purchased from commercial vendors or synthesized prior to use. Theinventive conjugation components are prepared by functionalizing apolymer within the category oligo to contain one or two conjugationfunctionalities.

In the following examples preferred process conditions are given, i.e.,reaction temperatures, times, mole ratios of reactants, solvents usedand pressures. However, other process conditions can also be used unlessotherwise stated. Optimum reaction conditions may vary depending on thereactants or solvents used, but such conditions can be determined by oneskilled in the art by routine optimization procedures.

In addition to the protected groups described here, other conventionalprotecting groups may be necessary to prevent certain functional groupsfrom undergoing undesired reactions. Suitable protecting groups forvarious functional groups as well as suitable conditions for protectingand deprotecting particular functional groups are well known in the art.For instance, numerous protecting groups are described in T. W. Greeneand G. M. Wuts, PROTECTING GROUPS IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS, Third Edition(Wiley, New York, 1999), and publications cited there.

Furthermore, various oligos may contain one or more chiral centers.Accordingly, conjugated molecules can be prepared or isolated as purestereoisomers, i.e., as individual enantiomers or diastereomers, or asmixtures of stereoisomer, such racemic mixtures. All such stereoisomersand mixtures of stereoisomers are within the scope of this invention.Such compounds can be prepared using optically active startingmaterials, for instance, or stereoselective reagents. Alternatively, amixture of two or more stereoisomers can be resolved using chiral columnchromatography or chiral resolving agents.

Oligos that are oligonucleotides may be prepared by conventionalsolid-phase synthesis methodology, such as the phosphoramiditetechnique, which uses phosphoramidite building blocks derived fromprotected 2′-deoxynucleosides (dA, dC, dG, and T) and ribonucleosides(A, C, G, and U). To obtain a desired oligonucleotide, the buildingblocks are sequentially coupled to the growing oligonucleotide chain inthe order required by the sequence of the product. Examples of suchmethods are described in Reese, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 3: 3851(2005), Iyer et al., “Oligonucleotide synthesis” in COMPREHENSIVENATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY, Vol. 7: DNA and Aspects of MolecularBiology; and Ogilvie; J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 99: 7741-43 (1997).

Peptides can be prepared from amino acids under amide couplingconditions, such as suing an amide coupling reagent. For example, thepeptides can be prepared using a solid-phase methodology as thosedescribed in F. F. Nord and R. B. Merrifield, SOLID-PHASE PEPTIDESYNTHESIS (Wiley 2006).

Peptide nucleic acids can be prepared according to conventional methodsas described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082 and 6,395,474.

The various compounds described herein, such as conjugation components,intermediates, and conjugated molecules, may be isolated and purifiedwhere appropriate using conventional techniques such as precipitation,filtration, crystallization, evaporation, distillation, andchromatography. Characterization of these compounds may be performedusing conventional methods such as by melting point, mass spectrum,nuclear magnetic resonance, and various other spectroscopic analyses.

EXAMPLES

The examples that follow are provided to illustrate certain aspects ofthe present invention and to aid those of skill in the art in practicingthe invention. The examples are not to be considered to limit the scopeof the invention.

Example 1. A PNA Conjugation Component Conjugated with a DNA ConjugationComponent

Scheme 4 above illustrates a general protocol for conjugating a DNA to apeptide nucleic acid to obtain a heteropolymer. In this scheme the5′-terminal (5′-end) of an appropriately functionalized DNA is permittedto contact a reactive group on the C-terminus of a PNA moiety tosynthesize a DNA-PNA heteropolymer (Scheme 4 path (A), 5′ to N-terminalconjugation).

In one embodiment, the conjugation reaction proceeds by providing anucleophilic group, for example, a thiol, amine, or hydroxide at the5-terminus of the DNA and a suitable leaving group such as halogen,mesylate, or tosylate at the N-terminus of the PNA. Alternatively,conjugation can proceed by functionalizing the 5′-terminal of the Da tobear a suitable leaving group and allowing such a DNA moiety to reactwith a nucleophile attached to the N-terminus of a PNA. Pursuant toanother aspect of the invention, conjugation of the DNA to the PNA canproceed via the formation of a disulfide bond or the formation of anamide (peptide) bond. Alternatively, an alkyne functionalized DNA can becontacted with an azide functionalized PNA to form a triazole ring thatconnects the 5-terminus of the DNA to the N-terminus of the PNA.Protocols for conjugating a DNA to a PNA via an amide linkage, thioetherlinkage, or triazine moiety are further described below.

The DNA-PNA heteropolymers thus obtained can be cleaved from the solidsupports using a variety of cleaving reagent. Depending on the type ofsolid support used and therefore, the nature of the bond conjugating theDNA or the PNA to a support, strong and weak acids such as hydrogenfluoride, trifluoroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, bases such asammonia, amines, or other reagents such as hydrazine, uv light, andhydrides can be used to cleave the heteropolymer from the supports.Typically, the cleaving reagent is used along with scavengers to preventracemization of the product.

In the specific example illustrated below, the conjugation product (X)is cleaved from the support through an elimination reaction under basicconditions (concentrated ammonium hydroxide). The specific support usedin this case is a 1000 angstrom Controlled Pore Glass (CPG) beadfunctionalized with the UnySupport linker commercially available fromGlenResearch.

As described above the synthesis of a DNA-PNA heteropolymer having a 5′to N-terminal connectivity requires the 5′-end of the DNA to be suitablefunctionalized to facilitate the conjugation reaction with theN-terminal of a PNA moiety. Illustrative of groups that are suitable forfunctionalizing the 5′-terminal of DNA are those shown in Scheme 5 belowwhere variable “A” represents the 5′-terminal group of a DNA.

Methodologies for introducing functional groups illustrated in Scheme 5above, at the 5′-terminal of a DNA are well know in the art See Isaac S.Marks el al, Bioconjugate Chemistry, (2011), 22(7), pp 1259-1263; NealK. Devaraj et al., J Am Chem Soc., (2005), 127(24), pp 8600-8601; JosephG. Harrison and Shankar Balasubramanian, Nucl. Acids Res., (1998) 26(13), pp 3136-3145; and Podyminogin M A et al., Nucleic Acids Res.,(2001), 29(24), pp 5090-8. Alternatively, a DNA-PNA heteropolymer thathas a 3′ to C-terminal connectivity can be synthesized using a protocolsimilar to the one illustrated above in Scheme 4, path (B). Thesynthesis such a heteropolymer proceeds by introducing a functionalgroup selected from one of the groups that define variable “A” in Scheme5 above at the 3′-end of a DNA and contacting the functionalized DNAwith a PNA whose C-terminus is separately functionalized to include agroup that can react with the 3′-end of the DNA.

The PNa moiety that takes part in the conjugation reaction cam befunctionalized at the C-terminal or the N-terminal of the PNA molecule.FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate reagents for N-terminal and C-terminalmodifications of PNA's. Protocols for modifying the N- and C-termini ofPNA's using these reagents are well known in the chemical art. SeeAndriy A. Mokhir et al., Bioconjugate Chem., (2003), 14 (5), pp 877-883;Brian D. Gildea et al., Tetrahedron Letters, (1998), Volume 39, Issue40, pp 7255-7258

Schemes 6-8 illustrate exemplary strategies for synthesizing a3′-functionalized DNA. The product DNA's illustrated in each of Scheme6-8 can be used to form the inventive DNA-PNA heteropolymer as furtherdescribed below.

Example 2. Amide Conjugate Linker Formation (1)

Scheme 9 illustrates the synthesis of a DNA-PNA heteropolymer having a5′ to C-terminal connectivity.

As illustrated above, the synthesis of the inventive conjugatedmolecule, that is, a DNA-PNA heteropolymer proceeds by contacting theamino group at 5′-end of the DNA (component 2-1) to the carboxyl groupof a PNA (component 2-2). The product 2-3 is obtained through theformation of an amide bond using reaction conditions similar to thoseused for performing conventional amide-couplings. The numerical value ofsubscript “s” dictates the distance separating the PNA from the DNA inthe final product and may influence the physical and/or biochemicalproperties of the heteropolymer.

Suitable coupling reagents for forming an amide bond includecarbodiimides, such as N—N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC),N—N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIPCDI), and1-ethyl-3-(3′-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDCI). The carbodiimidesmay be used alone or along with additives that promote and improvecoupling efficiency. Such coupling additives include without limitationdimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) or compounds belonging to the classbenzotriazoles, e.g., 7-aza-1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOAt),1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), and 6-chloro-1-hydroxybenzotriazole(Cl-HOBt).

Amide coupling reagents also include aminium and phosphonium basedreagents. Aminium salts includeN-[(dimethylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridine-1-ylmethylene]-N-methylmethanaminiumhexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HATU),N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminiumhexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HBTU),N-[(1H-6-chlorobenzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminiumhexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HCTU),N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminiumtetrafluoroborate N-oxide (TBTU), andN-[(1H-6-chlorobenzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminiumtetrafluoroborate N-oxide (TCTU). Phosphonium salts include7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl-N-oxy-tris(pyrrolidino)phosphoniumhexafluorophosphate (PyAOP) andbenzotriazol-1-yl-N-oxy-tris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate(PyBOP). An amide formation step may be conducted in a polar solventsuch as dimethylformamide (DMF), where the solvent also may include anorganic base such as diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) ordimethylaminopyridine (DMAP).

Example 3. Amide Conjugate Linker Formation (2)

Heteropolymers having an amide linkage between the DNA and PNA unitsalso are synthesized by permitting a PNA modified to have a free aminogroup at its C-terminus to contact a 5′-carboxyl DNA as illustratedbelow in Scheme 10.

Briefly, the final product having an amide conjugate linker is formed bycontacting the amino group PNA conjugation component 2-2 with a(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)oxycarbonyl conjugation functionality of atthe 5′-end of DNA conjugation component 3-1.

Example 4. Triazole Conjugate Linker Formation (1)

Heteropolymers having a triazole linkage, such as component 4-3 inScheme 11 below are synthesized by contacting a 3′-alkynyl modified DNA(component 4-1) with a N-terminal azide modified PNA (component 4-2).

Alternatively, the DNA can be functionalized to have an alkynyl group atits 5′-end and an azide at the C-terminal end of a PNA. Briefly,synthesis proceeds as follows. The 5′-functionalized DNA is dissolved ina solution of water and alcohol. Typically the ratio of water to alcoholis in the range from 3:1 to 1:3. The choice of alcohol depends on theamount and chemical nature of the DNA being used. Exemplary alcoholsinclude without limitation, ethanol, propanol, n-butanol, t-butanol andi-propanol. Other organic solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF) canalso be added to the aqueous-alcoholic DNA solution to enhancedissolution of DNA. A copper catalyst, such as copper sulfate or CuI isadded to the DNA solution, followed by the addition of a bufferedsolution of the PNA azide. To aid the conjugation, cofactors such astris-hydroxypropyltriazole can be added to the reaction mixture. Themole ratio of DNA to PNA in the reaction mixture can range from 1:1 to1:3. The amount of DNA in the reaction mixture can be from about 1.0nmoles to about 20 μmoles, for example about 50 nmoles, 100 nmoles, 150nmoles, 200 nmoles, 250 nmoles, 300 nmoles, 350 nmoles, 400 nmoles, 500nmoles, 600 nmoles, 700 nmoles, 800 nmoles, 900 nmoles, 1 μmole, 2μmoles, 3 μmoles, 4 μmoles, 5 μmoles, 6 μmoles, 7 μmoles, 8 μmoles, 10μmoles, 12 μmoles, 14 μmoles, 16 μmoles, 18 μmoles, or 20 μmoles. Theamount of PNA is from about 1 nmoles to about 60 μmoles such as about1.0 nmoles, 3 nmoles, 6 nmoles, 9 nmoles, 12 nmoles, 15 nmoles, 18nmoles, 21 nmoles, 24 nmoles, 27 nmoles, 30 nmoles, 40 nmoles, 50nmoles, 100 nmoles, 150 nmoles, 200 nmoles, 250 nmoles, 300 nmoles, 350nmoles, 400 nmoles, 500 nmoles, 600 nmoles, 700 nmoles, 800 nmoles, 900nmoles, 1 μmole, 2 μmoles, 3 μmoles, 4 μmoles, 5 μmoles, 6 μmoles, 7μmoles, 8 μmoles, 10 μmoles, 12 μmoles, 14 μmoles, 16 μmoles, 18 μmoles,20 μmoles, 30 μmoles, 40 μmoles, 50 μmoles, or 60 μmoles. Depending onthe scale of the reaction, the final volume of the reaction mixture canrange from about 10 μl to about 1 mL.

In a variation of the above described synthetic protocol, the startingDNA or the PNA may be tethered to solid support. Solvents such asdichloromethane or DMF that hydrate and swell solid supports can beadded to enhance conjugation. In this case the final conjugated molecule(i.e., DNA-PNA heteropolymer) is cleaved from the support followingsynthesis.

Example 5. Triazole Conjugate Linker Formation (2)

Scheme 12 illustrates the synthesis of a DNA-PNA heteropolymer(component 5-3) obtained by contacting a PNA having an alkynylfunctionality at the C-terminal (component 5-2) with a 5′-azidefunctionalized DNA (component 5-1).

Example 6. Symmetric Conjugation Strategy Using Triazole ConjugateLinkers

An exemplary synthesis of the inventive conjugate compounds using asymmetric conjugation strategy based on the formation of triazoles asthe conjugate linkers is illustrated below in Scheme 13.

The synthesis proceeds by contacting, a solid support 6-1 having anappropriate surface functional group, such as a bromo, a chloro, atosylate, a mesylate, or any other suitable leaving group (a protectedconjugation functionality) with an azide, (e.g., NaN₃), to form theazide functionalized solid support 6-2. The group “CL” conjugated to thesolid support in the Scheme above can be a bicyclic molecule capable ofundergoing a dephosphorylation reaction. Illustrative of a ‘CL’ moietyhaving a bicyclic core is the group illustrated below, where the

indicates point to attachment to a solid support such as controlled poreglass.

This support is then contacted with a conjugation component 6-3 havingthe alkynyl conjugation functionality at one end and a bromo group atits other end to obtain a solid support conjugated component 6-4. Afterconverting the bromo group of component 6-4 to an azide, conjugationfunctionality 6-5 can further react with a second conjugation component6-3 to form a solid supported conjugated molecule which can be cleavedfrom the solid support to yield conjugated molecule 6-6. Depending onthe desired size of the final product, the solid supported conjugatedmolecule 6-5 can react with required number of conjugation components6-3 prior to cleavage of the product from the solid support. Theconjugation components 6-3 may be the same or different, but each ofthese conjugation components must have an alkynyl conjugationfunctionality and a bromo group at their respective termini.

Example 7. Thioether Conjugate Linker Formation (1)

DNA-PNA heteropolymers having a 5′ to C-terminus connectivity via athioether conjugate linker are synthesized by contacting a 5′-bromomodified DNA (component 7-1) with a C-terminal thiol modified PNA(component 7-2) as shown below in Scheme 14. The product is a conjugatedmolecule 7-3 that has an alkylthioether linkage.

Example 8. Thioether Conjugate Linker Formation (2)

In this example a thioether conjugate linker can be formed by contactinga thiol conjugation functionality of a DNA conjugation component 8-1with a bromo conjugation functionality of a PNA conjugation component8-2 under conditions to give conjugated molecule 8-3.

In a variation of the protocol illustrated above the disulfide of a3′-thiol functionalized DNA and a PNA having a N-terminal maleimidegroup can be used for synthesizing a DNA-PNA heteropolymer. Briefly, the3′-functionalized DNA is dissolved in a buffer and a reductant such asDTT, TCEP, [N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis (mercaptoacetyl)hydrazine (DMH),bis(2-mercaptoethyl)sulfone (BMS) ormeso-2,5-dimercapto-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyladipamide (DTA) is added to thebuffer solution. The amount of reductant added is greater than theamount of DNA present in the buffer solution and the reaction mixture isstirred at room temperature for about 1-2 hours. A solution of PNA inDMF is then added to the buffered solution of DNA and reductant. Afterstirring for 6-16 hours, the crude product is lyophilized, prior topurification using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

The mole ratio of DNA to reductant in the buffer solution can range from1:1.2 to 1:3. The mole ratio of DNA to PNA in the reaction mixture canrange from 1:0.2 to 1:5. The amount of DNA in the reaction mixture canbe in the range from about 5.0 nmoles to about 20 μmoles both numbersinclusive, while the amount of PNA is from about 1 nmoles to about 100μmoles both numbers inclusive. As described above, depending on thescale of the reaction, the final volume of the reaction mixture canrange from about 10 μl to about 1 mL. The conjugation reaction can beperformed using a solid support bound DNA or a solid support bound PNA.In this case the final conjugated molecule (i.e., DNA-PNA heteropolymer)is cleaved from the support following synthesis.

While particular embodiments of the subject invention have beendiscussed, they are illustrative only and not restrictive of theinvention. A review of this specification will make many variations ofthe invention apparent to those skilled in the field of the invention.The full scope of the invention should be determined by reference bothto the claims below, along with their full range of equivalents, and tothe specification, with such variations.

1. A method of preparing a compound of the formula

comprising (i) attaching a conjugation component of the formula

wherein R² is R^(2a) or R^(2ap), to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

(ii) when R² is R^(2ap), converting

to

(iii) contacting

with a conjugation component of the formula

wherein R³ is R^(3a), or R^(3ap); to form

(iv) when R³ is R^(3ap), converting

to

and (v) contacting

with a conjugation component of the formula

to provide the compound of the formula

wherein;

is a solid support material;

are independently an oligo, where each oligo is independently a polymer,having from 2 to about 150 covalently linked monomer units, that ischaracterized by a sequence of 2′-deoxyribosenucleotide residues (DNA),ribonucleotide residues (RNA), and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), or acombination thereof; R^(1a) and R^(1b) are complementary conjugationfunctionalities and L¹ is conjugate linker, and R^(1a), R^(1b), and L¹are (a) R^(1a) is azido, R^(1b) is —C≡C—R²³, and L¹ is

or (b) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is carboxy, and L¹ is —NR²³C(═O)—, or(c) R^(1a) is carboxy, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —C(═O)NR²³—, or (d)R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is halo, and L¹ is —NR²³—, or (e) R^(1a) is—O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is hydroxy, and L¹ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (f)R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—, or (g) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is—O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or (h) R^(1a) is halo, R^(1b) is thio, and L¹ is —S—,or (i) R^(1a) is

R^(1b) is thio, and L¹

or (j) R^(1a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(1b) is azido, and L¹ is

or (k) R^(1a) is halo, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, and L¹ is —NR²³—, or (l) R^(1a)is hydroxy, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (m)R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L¹ is—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (n) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X),and L¹ is —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (o) R^(1a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(1b) is—X, and L¹ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or (p) R^(1a) is —X, R^(1b) is—O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L¹ is —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (q) R^(1a) is—(CR²⁵R²⁵)SC(═O)OR²³, R^(1b) is —NHR²³, L¹ is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—,or (r) R^(1a) is —NHR²³, R^(1b) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L¹ is—NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or (s) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is halo, and L¹is —S—, or (t) R^(1a) is thio, R^(1b) is

and L¹ is

(u) R^(1a) is —SH, R^(1b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and L¹ is—S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—; R^(2a) and R^(2b) are complementaryconjugation functionalities and L² is conjugate linker, and R^(2ap),R^(2a), R^(2b), and L² are (a′) R^(2ap) is halo, R^(2a) is azido, R^(2b)is —C≡C—R²³, and L² is

or (b′) R^(2ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is carboxy, and L²is —NR²³C(═O)—, or (c′) R^(2ap) is carboxy ester, R^(2a) is carboxy,R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is —C(═O)NR²³—, or (d′) R^(2ap) is —NR²³Pr,R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is halo, and L² is —NR²³—, or (e′) R^(2ap) is—OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(2a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) ishydroxy, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (f′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate orphosphate ester, R^(2a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is—O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—, or (g′) R^(2ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphateester, R^(2a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(2b) is thio, and L² is—O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or (h′) R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is thio, and L² is —S—, or(i′) R^(2a) is

R^(2b) is thio, and L² is

or (j′) R^(2a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(2b) is azido, and L² is

or (k′) R^(2a) is halo, R^(2b) is —NHR²³, and L² is —NR²³—, or (l′)R^(2a) is hydroxy, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—,or (m′) R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L² is—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (n′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X),and L² is —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (o′) R^(2ap) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, R^(2a)is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(2b) is —X, and L² is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or (p′)R^(2a) is —X, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L² is —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or(q′) R^(2a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(2b) is —NHR²³, L² is—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or (r′) R^(2a) is —NHR²³, R^(2b) is—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, L² is —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or (s′) R^(2a)is thio, R^(2b) is halo, and L² is —S—, or (t′) R^(2a) is thio, R^(2b)is

and L² is

or (u′) R^(2a) is —SH, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and L² is—S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—; R^(3a) and R^(3b) are complementaryconjugation functionalities and L³ is conjugate linker, and R^(3ap),R^(3a), R^(3b), and L³ are (a″) R^(3ap) is halo, R^(3a) is azido, R^(3b)is —C≡C—R²³, and L³ is

or (b″) R^(3ap) is —NR²³Pr, R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is carboxy, and L³is —NR²³C(═O)—, or (c″) R^(3ap) is carboxy ester, R^(3a) is carboxy,R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is —C(═O)NR²³—, or (d″) R^(3ap) is —NR²³Pr,R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is halo, and L³ is —NR²³—, or (e″) R^(3ap) is—OH, phosphate or phosphate ester, R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) ishydroxy, and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (f″) R^(3ap) is —OH, phosphate orphosphate ester, R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is—O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³—, or (g″) R^(3ap) is —OH, phosphate or phosphateester, R^(3a) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is—O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or (h″) R^(3a) is —X, R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is —S—, or(i″) R^(3a) is

R^(3b) is thio, and L³ is

or (j″) R^(3a) is —C≡C—R²³, R^(3b) is azido, and L³ is

or (k″) R^(3a) is halo, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, and L³ is —NR²³—, or (l″)R^(3a) is hydroxy, R^(2b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—O—,or (m′) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X), and L³ is—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or (n′) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(X),and L³ is —S—P(═O)(OH)—(O), or (o″) R^(3ap) is —O—P(═O(OH)SR²⁴, R^(3a)is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, R^(3b) is —X, and L³ is —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—, or (p″)R^(3a) is —X, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, and L³ is —S—P(═O)(OH)—O—, or(q″) R^(3a) is —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, R^(3b) is —NHR²³, L³ is—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³—, or (r″) R^(3a) is —NHR²³, R^(3b) is—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═C)OR²³, L³ is —NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)—, or (s″) R^(3a)is thio, R^(3b) is —X, and L³ is —S—, or (t″) R^(3a) is thio, R^(3b) is

and L³ is

or (u″) R^(3a) is —SH, R^(3b) is —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) and L³ is—S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—; R⁴ is selected from the group consistingof R^(3a), R^(3ap), halo, —NR²³Pr, —OH, —O—P(═O)(OH)SR²⁴, carboxy ester,phosphate, phosphate ester, azido, —C≡C—R²³, —NHR²³, carboxy, hydroxy,—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³, —O—P(═O)(OH)SH, or —O—P(═O)(OH)Br, or an oligo;X is chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, ordimethoxy triflate, n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; R²³ is selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl,substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substitutedaryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substitutedcycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, substituted cycloalkynyl, heteroaryl,substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic; Pris an amino protecting group; R²⁴ is trityl or benzyl; R²⁵ is hydrogenor C₁₋₆ alkyl; n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; s is an integer of greater than1; provided that R² does not react with R^(1a) or R^(1b), R³ does notreact with R^(2a) or R^(2b) and R⁴ does not react with R^(3a) or R^(3b);----- represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from


2. The method of claim 1 for preparing a compound of the formula

comprising (i) attaching a compound of the formula

to a solid support

to form a compound of the formula

and (iii) reacting

with a compound of the formula

to form

wherein:

is a solid support material;

are independently an oligo; R^(1a) and R^(1b) are complementaryconjugation functionalities and L¹ is conjugate linker, R^(2a) andR^(2b) are complementary conjugation functionalities and L² is conjugatelinker, and R^(1a), R^(1b), L¹, R^(2a), R^(2b), L², and R^(3a) areselected from R^(1a), R^(2a), or R^(3a) R^(1b) or R^(2b) L¹ or L²—C≡C—R²³ azido

azido —C≡C—R²³

carboxy —NHR²³ —C(═O)NR²³— —NHR²³ carboxy —NR²³C(═O)— halo —NHR²³ —NR²³——NR²³ halo —NR²³— hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —O—P(═O)(OH)—O——O—P(═O)(OH)(X) hydroxy —O—P(═O)(OH)—O— —NHR²³ —O—P(═O)(OH)(X)—NR²³—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —NHR²³ —O—P(═O)(OH)—NR²³— thio—O—P(═O)(OH)(X) —S—P(═O)(OH)—O— —O—P(═O)(OH)(X) thio —O—P(═O)(OH)—S—thio —X —S— —X thio —S— —O—P(═O)(OH)SH —X —O—P(═O)(OH)—S— —X—O—P(═O)(OH)SH —S—P(═O)(OH)—O— —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³ —NHR²³—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)NR²³— —NHR²³ —(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)C(═O)OR²³—NR²³C(═O)—(CR²⁵R²⁵)_(s)— thio

thio

—SH —O—P(═O)(OH)(O—(CH₂)_(n)—SH) —S—S—(CH₂)_(n)—O—P(OH)(═O)—O—

wherein the selection of R^(1a), R^(2a), or R^(3a) is independent of oneanother provided that L¹ and L² are different, R^(2a) does not reactwith R^(1a) or R^(1b), and R^(3a) does not react with R^(2a) or R^(2b);X is chlorine, bromine, fluorine, tosylate, mesylate, triflate, ordimethoxy triflate; R²³ is selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl,alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl,cycloalkynyl, substituted cycloalkynyl, heteroaryl, substitutedheteroaryl, heterocyclic, and substituted heterocyclic; R²⁵ is hydrogenor C₁₋₆ alkyl; s is an integer of greater than 1; ----- represents thepoint of connection to the part of the solid support-bound conjugatedmolecule that is closer to

and

represents the point of connection to the part of the solidsupport-bound conjugated molecule that is further away from


3. (canceled)
 4. A method of preparing a compound of the formula

comprising cleaving the bond between

and L¹ of the compound of the formula

thereby obtaining

wherein: the compound of

is prepared according to the method of claim 1;

L¹, L², R³, R⁴,

are as defined in claim 1; and Z is —OH, OH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, —COOH,NH₂C(O)—, NH₂NH—C(O)—, COOH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,NH₂C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, NH₂NH—C(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-,CH₂═CH—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-, C≡C—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene- or HS—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-and any alkylene is optionally substituted by one or more groupsselected from —OH, halogen, —NHR″, —NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-C≡CH, and—NHC(O)—(C₁-C₁₀)alkylene-CH═CH₂; R″ is selected from (C₁-C₁₀)alkyl,(C₃-C₁₀)cycloalkyl, or (C₃-C₁₀)aryl. 5-8. (canceled)